Nutcracker with a reciprocating jaw



Sept. 5, 19 50 R. E. EARLY NUTCRACKER WITH A RECIPROCATING JAW FiledApril 4, 1949 Patented Sept. 5, 1950 Robert E. Early, Wharton, Tex.,assignor of onehalf to Jim 0. Locke, Wharton County, Tex.

Application April 4, 1949, Serial No. 85,420

1 Claim.

This invention relates to nut crackers.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved nut crackerembodying a fixed abutment or anvil against which one end of a nut isadapted to engage, and a screw shaft carrying a movable jaw or abutmentfor engagement with the opposite end of the nut, and including a basehaving a clamp for securing the device onto a table or other support. I

Another object of this invention is to provide in a device of this kind,a shield extending along at least one side of the device so as toprevent undue flying of broken shells.

A further object of this invention is to provide a nut cracker embodyinga screw shaft wherein the shaft is formed with triple threads so as toeffect rapid endwise movement of the shaft.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation partly broken away and in section,of a nut cracker constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l5! designates generally anelongated body which is adapted to be clamped to a table or othersuitable support, as will be hereinafter described.

The body It] is provided adjacent one end thereof with an upstanding lugll having a threaded bore l3 formed therethrough. A screw shaft I2having a triple thread is threaded through the bore I3 and is providedat its rear end with a crank handle l4 threaded or otherwise fixed in abushing I5 which is formed on the rear end of shaft 12.

The body I0 is provided at its forward end with a head or jaw l8 havinga socket or recess i9 within which one end of a nut is adapted toengage. The body ID is provided in the upper side thereof with alongitudinally extending and transversely arcuate channel or concave 20,and the forward end of body i0 is formed with an upstanding jaw orabutment 2| having a socket or recess 22 within which the opposite endof the nut is adapted to engage.

In order to provide a shield to prevent the pieces of shell from undulyflying away from the 2 nut cracker, I have provided an upstanding shield23 which may be formed with one side of the body it having an inwardlyextended arcuate surface disposed parallel to the screw shaft [2 betweenEllie nut or lug H and the fixed abutment or jaw The body II] hasextending from the lower side thereof an L-shaped member 24 which isformed with one side 25 thereof vertical and depending from the body In,and the other side 26 thereof parallel with and spaced downwardly fromthe body ID.

A movable clamping jaw 21 is disposed between the arm or side 26 and thelower side of the body In and is moved toward or from the body l0 bymeans of a pressure applying bolt 28 having a winged head 29 fixed onthe lower end thereof. The upper end of bolt 28 is rotatably mounted ina bushing 30 which is carried by the lower side of the jaw 21. The jaw21 is of substantial length and extends toward the vertical or dependingside 25 of the L-shaped member 24 and is provided with a slot 3| withinwhich a vertically disposed bracing web 32 is adapted to loosely engage.The web 32 not only braces the L-shaped member 24 but also provides ameans for holding the jaw 21 against rotation in addition to permittingsliding movement of this jaw toward or from the body "I.

In the use and operation of this device, the nut which is to be crackedis interposed between the movable jaw or head I 8 and the fixed jaw orabutment 2|, engaging at the opposite ends thereof in the recesses orsockets I9 and 20. The crank I4 is rotated to move the screw shaft l2inwardly, thereby applying pressure on the nut, and effecting crackingof the shell thereof. This device may be clamped onto any table or otherfixed support by means of the clamp structure embodying the movable jaw21' and the stationary jaw or body I0.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claim.

What I claim is- A nut cracker comprising an elongated body, anupstandin lu carried by said body adjacent one end thereof and formedwith a threaded bore, a second upstanding lug at the opposite end ofsaid body, a multiple threaded screw shaft threaded through said bore, ajaw carried by said shaft confronting said second lug, said second lughaving a recess confronting said jaw, a side member carried by said bodyextending between said lugs on one side of said body only and having anin- 3 wardly extended arcuate rib disposed parallel to REFERENCES CITEDsaid screw shaft, said side member integral with The followingreferences are of record in the the pods;3 memlzetr and proxgding aconcavebfeor reme of this patent: ceiving he nu o be crac ed, and saidri eing in a plane with and transverse to the upper half 5 UNITED STATESPATENTS of the nut receiving recess to prevent flying shell Number NameDate fragments, a crank fixed to said shaft, and clamp- 1,117,945 FortNov. 17, 1914 ing means carried by said body to: securingthe e 133451856. {1001: Aug. 6, 1918 latter to a, support. 1,827,643 DeLOaCh Oct.13, 1931 ROBERT E. EARLY. 10 1,953,878 Eggleson Apr. 3, 1934:

